Weatherford City Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026
Weatherford City Council Regular Meeting – April 14, 2026
The Weatherford City Council held a regular session on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:01 PM in City Hall. The meeting included a proclamation, approval of minutes, a public hearing on short-term rental ordinance amendments, adoption of an updated sex offender exclusion zone ordinance, approval of a change order for a road construction project, future agenda items, and citizen comments. The meeting adjourned at 6:31 PM.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes of the March 24, 2026 City Council meeting were approved unanimously on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Zack Smith, seconded by Councilmember Heidi Wilder.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Mayor Paul Paschall and Councilmember Luke Williams presented a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Weatherford. The proclamation highlighted the theme "Act with Courage, Lead with Respect" and recognized Freedom House for supporting survivors.
Public Hearing & Discussion Items
7.a – Short-Term Rental Ordinance Amendments
- Director of Development Services Scott McDonald presented proposed amendments to Sections 5-15-3 and 5-15-4 of the City Code. Two changes: (1) The city will be named as an additional insured on short-term rental insurance policies; (2) Renters may stay longer than 29 days if they report taxes accordingly to the Comptroller. The public hearing was opened and closed with no speakers. Council discussed whether there is a maximum stay; McDonald clarified that stays beyond 29 days are considered long-term rentals, but if the property is used as a short-term rental at any time it must be registered as such. The ordinance (O2026-09) was approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Luke Williams, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Zack Smith.
7.b – Sex Offender Exclusion Zone Expansion
- Police Chief Jason Hayes presented Ordinance O2026-10, which expands the exclusion zone for registered sex offenders from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet from child safety zones (parks, schools, playgrounds, daycares). He provided local data: approximately 60 sex offenders live within city limits; 53 qualify under the ordinance (victims under 17), of which 28 have victims under 14 and 16 have victims under 10. Recidivism statistics: 15% are arrested within 3–5 years of release, 50% are arrested again for any offense. The ordinance includes a grandfather clause for current residents, a Halloween restriction (lights out, no candy distribution), and defines Halloween activity. Councilmember Luke Williams asked about including churches; Chief Hayes noted churches with daycares are already covered, and the city could analyze adding churches at a future date. Council directed staff to research potential enhancements to include churches with after-school programs. The ordinance was approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Luke Williams, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Zack Smith.
7.c – Change Order for Kirkpatrick Drive Phase 2
- Director of Public Works Matt Leppla requested authorization for Change Order 1 with Gilco Contracting, Inc. for $237,500 (increase of 12,500 cubic yards of earthwork at $19/cubic yard), bringing the total contract to $2,248,448. The project extends Kirkpatrick Drive parallel to I-20 between Tento and Bethel Road. An additional 15 days is needed, with completion now expected in January 2027 (285 contract days). The project remains under the original estimated construction cost and is funded by the TERS program. Councilmember Heidi Wilder asked about using excess fill for other projects; Leppla noted it could potentially be used at the new fire station site. The change order was approved unanimously on a motion by Councilmember Heidi Wilder, seconded by Councilmember Luke Williams.
Future Agenda Items
- Councilmember Luke Williams requested a future item to review possible enhancements to the sex offender ordinance (specifically Section 6-15-2) regarding churches and after-school programs, with staff to report back within 60 days or four meetings.
- Councilmember Heidi Wilder requested a review of the TABC distance requirements for alcohol sales near churches and schools (200 feet from door to door for churches; 300 feet property line to property line for schools) to clarify grandfathering rules for new structures on existing properties. City Attorney Rob Allibon confirmed the distances are state-mandated and not locally adjustable.
Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items
- Clinton Miller (416 Soward Avenue), Interim Second Vice Commander of American Legion Post 163, announced a community day event on June 6, 2026 from 10 AM to 5 PM and requested city council support (non-financial).
- Catherine Lewis (612 State Street) spoke about the need to protect victims of sexual assault, noting that churches are not automatically safe. She also urged the council to address affordable housing (mentioning $1,500/month rent is unaffordable) and to preserve green spaces and trees during development, specifically referencing tree removal on Martin Drive. She also asked to avoid clustering chicken restaurants and gas stations.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of March 24, 2026 (unanimous).
- Adopted Ordinance O2026-09 amending short-term rental regulations (unanimous).
- Adopted Ordinance O2026-10 expanding sex offender exclusion zone to 2,000 feet with Halloween restrictions (unanimous). Directed staff to research adding churches with after-school programs to the map.
- Authorized the City Manager to execute Change Order 1 for Kirkpatrick Drive Phase 2 (unanimous).
- Set future agenda items: sex offender ordinance enhancements (60-day review) and review of TABC distance requirements for alcohol sales.
- Meeting adjourned at 6:31 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending tonight. Before I call the being to order, I'm going to invite Kirk Williams up with Waterhouse Church to lead us in our invocation. Kurt, come on up. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for tonight. We thank you for bringing us together tonight and the opportunity to meet as one. Lord, tonight, I ask that you would bring a clarity of mind and a unity of spirit, that we would be focused on that which we are meeting together for, and that you would bring us all together in one accord, so that we might work for the betterment of all the Weatherford and those of the greater area. Senior Sun's holy and precious name. Amen. Thank you for that, sir. Appreciate you being here. It is now 6.01 p.m. and I'm going to call the meeting to order and announce. We do have a quorum present tonight, so we'll be able to conduct business. Please do let the record reflect that Councilmember Tiscus was unable to make it. Item three on the agenda of Pledges of Allegiance to the United States and Texas flags to be led by Councilmember Heidi Wilder. Please rise. Please join me. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. One individual. Our 911 dispatch team are the calm voices on the other end of the line when things are anything but calm. We're lucky to have 13 of them serving Weatherford 24-7, and they do an incredible job. We'd also like to recognize Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. From reuniting pets with their owners to handling the unexpected, our animal services team does work that's not always easy, but it's always important. We appreciate the care they show to both our residents and the animals. Clear your evening and maybe skip lunch. The Taste of Parker County is back on Tuesday, April 21st at Heritage Park. There will be great fruit, food from across the county, all in one place, all for a great cause, supporting Weatherford College students. And if you see young entrepreneurs setting up shop across Parker County on Saturday, April 25th, that's by design. Lemonade Day is a free program where participants learn how to start and run their own business, building skills like budgeting, customer service, and goal setting. Stand owners ages five to eighteen will put their skills to the test, competing for awards like best booth, best business plan, and most profitable. It's a fun hands-on way to support the next generation of business leaders and a great reminder of the impact our young business leaders of Weatherford are making in our community. And if your medicine cabinet has turned into a time capsule, this one's for you. Take back Med Day is April 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ninth grade center. It's a quick drive-thru way to safely dispose of unused medications and sharps without leaving your car. And then Sunset on the Square returns April 26th from 5 to 9 p.m., bringing local chefs, great food, and one-of-a-kind dining experience to York Avenue. It's a chance to gather with neighbors, enjoy an evening on the square, and celebrate the people and places that make Weatherford special. And if you need some more ideas for fun things to do around town, we've got movies in the park on April 17th at Heritage Park featuring Zootopia 2. On April 18th, you can swing by the spring market at the Weatherford Animal Shelter for vendors' treats and maybe even a new four-legged friend. And then on April 27th, the Weatherford Police Department will host a surviving and active shooter training at the public safety building. For more details on these events and others, you can visit ExperienceWeatherford.com. All right, Aaron, thank you for that. You're right. Lots going on, lots of great things. Council, uh, any items of community interest from you tonight. Mr. Hotop, do you think, sir?
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